Max Verstappen Still Threatens Mercedes Despite …..read more
The battle between and Mercedes is far from finished, even as a new star begins to emerge at the Silver Arrows. While many expected Mercedes to focus entirely on their own championship ambitions in 2026, Verstappen’s presence continues to cast a shadow over the title fight.
Mercedes currently have a driver capable of challenging for the championship in teenage sensation . The young Italian has quickly become one of the biggest stories of the season after an impressive run of performances that has placed him at the top of the standings. His rise has reminded many fans of the intense rivalry between Verstappen and Mercedes during the dramatic 2021 campaign.
However, comparisons to the controversial title fight of that season may be premature. Antonelli and Verstappen are not yet involved in a championship battle on the same level as the one that unfolded between Verstappen and several years ago. Even so, there is a growing belief in Italy that Antonelli should not underestimate the Dutchman.
Following the Miami Grand Prix, respected Italian journalist published his driver ratings for Sky Sports Italia. Antonelli received enormous praise after another outstanding weekend. Turrini awarded the Mercedes youngster a perfect “10 with praise,” celebrating the fact that an Italian driver had achieved three consecutive Grand Prix victories for the first time since the era of legendary racer .
Turrini also referenced former Italian motorsport hero , suggesting the ex-driver would have been proud of Antonelli’s achievements. The journalist described Antonelli as the clear favourite for the world championship and painted a picture of a dream season unfolding for Italy’s newest racing sensation.
Despite all the attention on Antonelli, Verstappen still managed to leave a strong impression in Miami. The Red Bull driver started alongside the Mercedes rookie on the front row and demonstrated flashes of the speed that made him a four-time world champion. Although his weekend was mixed overall, there were clear signs that Red Bull had taken a major step forward after struggling badly at the beginning of the new regulation era.
The opening phase of the 2026 season had been extremely difficult for Verstappen and Red Bull. Across the first three races, the reigning champion collected only 12 points, a disappointing return for a driver accustomed to dominating Formula 1. The new chassis and power unit regulations appeared to hurt Red Bull more than expected, and Verstappen openly criticised the direction Formula 1 had taken.
The Dutchman repeatedly voiced frustration about the updated rules, even comparing the current generation of cars to “Formula E on steroids.” He argued that the FIA’s changes had reduced the excitement and identity of Formula 1. Even after improvements introduced before the Miami Grand Prix, Verstappen maintained that the governing body still had not gone far enough to fix the issues affecting the racing.
Yet Miami may prove to be a turning point for Red Bull’s season. During the five-week break before the event, the team worked aggressively on upgrades aimed at improving performance under the new regulations. The results became visible immediately, with Verstappen looking far more competitive than he had during the opening rounds.
Although Mercedes and Antonelli currently appear to have the advantage in the championship race, Verstappen’s resurgence has reminded the paddock that he remains one of the most dangerous competitors on the grid. His ability to extract performance from difficult situations is something rivals cannot ignore.
For Antonelli, the challenge now is maintaining his remarkable momentum while handling pressure from an experienced champion determined to fight back. Mercedes may finally have found their next title contender, but Verstappen’s battle with the Silver Arrows is clearly not over yet.